Haverhill vicar faces delay over retrial decision

Court Reporter

A senior Haverhill clergyman is facing an extra two week wait to learn if he will be retried over allegations that he defrauded his own church.

Last week a jury at Ipswich Crown Court had to be discharged after failing to reach a verdict in the case Rev Ian Finn, 57, who is Rector of St Mary the Virgin in Haverhill, over an allegation that he defrauded his own church.

Tuesday had been sent at the deadline for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to announce if a retrial would be sought.

However, Charles Myatt, appearing for the CPS, told Judge David Goodin that a decision could not yet be reached as the views of the victim of the alleged fraud, the Diocesan Board of Finance, had not yet been studied.

Mr Myatt said that another legal issue also required consideration and asked for a further two weeks to allow a decision to be reached.

Finn, who was not present for the hearing, was anxious to learn what would happen, said defence barrister Daniel Taylor.

Mr Taylor said: “The Rev Finn has this hanging over him. He is in a state of limbo.”

Judge Goodin agreed that a final deadline for a decision on whether a retrial should take place would now be set for December 8.

Rev Finn, of Hopton Rise, Haverhill, who is also Rural Dean of Clare and a Honorary Canon of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, has been accused of fraud by abuse of position in respect of £12,707 of undeclared fees for funerals and reading wedding banns.

Before the jury were discharged last week, Rev Finn had denied any dishonesty.

He said he had never studied accountancy and was not good with figures.